As Martyrs day draws closer,president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed that government is ready to support the idea of creating a Muslim Martyrs shrine in Namugongo.
”Government is thinking of supporting”The government will support the idea of creating a Muslim matyrs site in Namugongo. We shall work with the Muslim leadership to document the story of the Muslim Martyrs and develop a site in their memory just like we have done with the Catholics and Protestants. I thank you.” The president Tweeted Wednesday Morning.
The government will support the idea of creating a Muslim matyrs site in Namugongo. We shall work with the Muslim leadership to document the story of the Muslim Martyrs and develop a site in their memory just like we have done with the Catholics and Protestants. I thank you. pic.twitter.com/AuQPpKFvOO
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) May 29, 2019
Preparations for the celebrations of Uganda Martyrs Day 2019 are in high gear in Namugongo Martyrs Shrine.
The hosts, Gulu Archdiocese together with Uganda Catholic Secretariat are making final touches to see to it that the day goes well.
This year, Gulu Archdiocese has been chosen to lead the forthcoming celebrations which are held on June 3 of every year at Namugongo.
The annual event commemorates the heroic 45 Catholic and Anglican martyrs, who were killed by burning and beheading for their faith at the hands of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.
Of the total number, 22 were professing Catholicism while 23 Protestantism.
The chairman of Gulu organizing committee and Vicar General of hosting Archdiocese, Msgr Matthew Odong says his committee will ensure that the celebrations are held in the most dignified, appropriate and deserving manner that gives God all the highest praise.
“We have different organizing committees at Archdiocesan level which are working together with the Kampala National organizing committee to spearhead this year’s celebrations with utmost cooperation, coalition, coordination and harmony,” he said.
Odong also added that well-wishers are called upon to give an assisting hand as well as urging them to contribute generously towards the preparations of the occasion which always attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world at both Shrines.
The martyrs’ day program under the theme “Obey God always and everywhere” (Acts 4:19) starts on May 25 with a seven-day Novena.
Martyrs’ trek is set for June 1 from Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine to Old-Kampala church where Matia Mulumba one of the Martyrs was killed.
The twenty-two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV. They were declared saints on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI.
